Module having a latch

ABSTRACT

A module includes a module body adapted to plug into a mating port, and a latch member attached to the module body. The latch member is immovable relative to the module body when attached to the module body. The latch member is essentially always engaged with a receiving member of the mating port when the module body is plugged into the mating port, which always hinders a removal of the module body from the mating port.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The following are related co-pending United States patentapplications:

[0002] REMOVABLE SMALL FORM FACTOR FIBER OPTIC TRANSCEIVER MODULECHASSIS, Ser. No. 09/489,870, filed Jan. 20, 2000, by Scott M. Branch,David P. Gaio and William K. Hogan;

[0003] REMOVABLE LATCH AND BEZEL EMI GROUNDING FEATURE FOR FIBER-OPTICTRANSCEIVERS, Ser. No. 09/410,786, filed Oct. 1, 1999, by Scott M.Branch, David P. Gaio and William K. Hogan;

[0004] REMOVABLE SMALL FORM FACTOR FIBER OPTIC TRANSCEIVER MODULE ANDELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION SHIELD, Ser. No. 09/489,184, filed Jan. 20,2000, by Scott M. Branch, David P. Gaio and William K. Hogan;

[0005] PIVOTING TYPE LATCH FOR REMOVABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES, Ser. No.09/591,640 filed Jun. 9, 2000, by Scott M. Branch, Leland L. Day, DavidP. Gaio, Michael F. Hanley and William K. Hogan. (IBM Docket No.ROC9-2000-0035-US1);

[0006] PULL TYPE LATCH FOR REMOVABLE SMALL FORM FACTOR ELECTRONICMODULES, Ser. No. 09/657,214, filed Sep. 7, 2000 by Scott M. Branch,David P. Gaio, Michael F. Hanley and William K. Hogan, (IBM DocketROC9-2000-0086-US1); and

[0007] PULL TYPE LATCH MECHANISM FOR REMOVABLE SMALL FORM FACTORELECTRONIC MODULES, Ser. No. 09/669,624, filed Sep. 25, 2000 by Scott M.Branch, William K. Hogan, Michael F. Hanley and David P. Gaio, (IBMDocket ROC9-2000-0221-US1),

[0008] which are incorporated herein in their entireties for purposes ofdisclosure by this reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0009] 1. Field of the Invention

[0010] The invention relates to a module having a latch, and morespecifically, to a plug-once type latch, and to a module withinterchangeable latch members.

[0011] 2. Background Information

[0012] Increasingly, computers are being interconnected with othercomputers to form communication and data networks. Large amounts of dataand other communications are transmitted and received over suchnetworks. The networks are desirably provided with reliable connectionsof coaxial or fiber-optic cables, or other conduits to computers ornetwork interface devices, in order to provide continuous anduninterrupted connections. Networked computers may often operatecontinuously, twenty-four hours a day, to provide the services or datathat a computer is expected to provide upon demand to remote computers.

[0013] Easy and reliable conduit connections are desirable to permitrapid, easy and reliable connections of conduits. One approach, which israpidly becoming a standard within the industry, utilizes a transceivermodule to receive signals from a network cable and to transmit signalsto the computer, and vice-versa. The transceiver modules are insertedinto and connected to mating ports of a computer or interface device.Transceiver modules may be fashioned in various versions, as long ascompatible with the particular mating port and connector in a particularcomputer or interface device.

[0014] The transceiver modules should be reliably latched into matingports and reliably retained against reasonable forces exerted on cablesto prevent unintended disconnection from the mating ports. At the sametime, the latching of the transceiver modules should not be so resistiveto unintentional disconnection forces that the transceiver module isdamaged if a conduit is pulled excessively.

[0015] Computers may be used in environments in which it is desirable tolatch and unlatch transceiver modules with mating ports frequently, aswith portable computers that are transported to different physicallocations, for example. Therefore, it would be desirable for certaintransceiver modules to have latching mechanisms that are easilyunlatched.

[0016] As disclosed in the above-noted application entitled “PULL TYPELATCH MECHANISM FOR REMOVABLE SMALL FORM FACTOR ELECTRONIC MODULES”, amodule may include a pull-to-release latch that extends outwardly fromthe end of a module. By pulling on the pull tab, the latching mechanismmay be unlatched quickly and easily.

[0017] However, networked computers may be physically arranged such thattransceiver modules, and removal elements protruding from transceivermodules or mating ports (such as the aforementioned pull-to-releaselatch), are exposed to passers-by. For example, in a computerlaboratory, computers may be aligned in rows with walkways between therows. Transceiver modules and removal elements that are visible topassers-by are susceptible to unauthorized or improper interactiontherewith by the passers-by due to curiosity or mischief. Where thepassers-by are young in age, as in a grade school setting, the risk ofimproper interaction due to curiosity or mischief may be significant.Therefore, it would be desirable for certain latching mechanisms oftransceivers to be plug-once; that is, they are not too easilyunlatchable or releasable.

[0018] Further, since the environments of computers may change, asignificant risk of improper interaction may change to an insignificantone, and vice-versa. Also, an environmental change may also changefrequent latching and unlatching from undesirable to desirable, andvice-versa. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide end-users withthe ability to change a plug-once latch to a pull-to-release orotherwise releasable latch, and vice-versa. Thus, it would be desirableto provide a latching mechanism kit for a module, which includes aplug-once latch and a readily releasable latch, so an end-user mayinterchange latches as desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0019] It is, therefore, a principal object of this invention to providea module having a latch.

[0020] It is another object of the invention to provide a module havinga latch that solves the above-mentioned problems.

[0021] It is another object of the invention to provide a latchingmechanism kit for a module, which includes a plug-once latch and areadily releasable latch.

[0022] These and other objects of the present invention are accomplishedby the disclosure herein.

[0023] In an exemplary aspect of the invention, a mating port isattached to a circuit board, and projects through a housing port in anelectronic system housing or bezel. The mating port includes a receivingmember with an opening, which is provided with an edge. The opening andedge form an engaging surface that engages and retains a latch member.

[0024] In a further exemplary aspect of the invention, pull-to-releaseand plug-once latch members have a lug disposed on a lower surface, andshafts on either side for engagement with frames on a lower portion of amodule. The lug has a sloped portion, and an engagement portion thatengages with the engaging surface of the receiving member.

[0025] In another exemplary aspect of the invention, a pull-to-releaselatch member is pivotably engaged with a module and has at least oneramp on an upper surface. A pull tab latch control actuator, resides ina chamber of a module and has a pull tab attached thereto, which extendsfrom the module. Pulling the pull tab moves the actuator between araised portion of the ramp and part of the module body, which pushes theraised portion away from the part of the module body and causes thelatch member to pivot such that the lug is raised out of engagement withthe receiving member. The restore action to reposition a pull-to-releaselatch member may be accomplished by the latch member being made of aresilient material, or a biasing member disposed on the latch member ormodule body.

[0026] In a further exemplary aspect of the invention, a plug-once latchmember has an upper surface that abuts a lower portion of the modulebody when the latch member is in engagement with the module. Thisabutment prevents the lug of a plug-once latch member from being raisedout of engagement with the receiving member.

[0027] In yet another exemplary aspect of the invention, a module kitincludes a module with at least one pull-to-release latch members and atleast one plug-once latch member. The shafts are removably engageablewith the frames of the module body, such that the latch members may beadvantageously interchanged as desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028]FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an electronic circuit board, cageand system housing bezel with the cage projecting through the bezel andproviding a receiving member for a latch member.

[0029]FIG. 2 is a bottom isometric view of a latch member that engageswith the receiving member illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0030]FIG. 3 is a bottom isometric view of the latch member of FIG. 2engaged with the receiving member of the cage illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0031]FIG. 4 is an elevated front isometric view of a pull tab and theexposed end of a transceiver module extending from the system housingbezel.

[0032]FIG. 5 is an exploded elevated front isometric view of thearrangement shown in FIG. 4.

[0033]FIG. 6 is a partial side section view of a transceiver module, thelatch actuator pull tab and a pull-to-release latch member engaged withthe receiving member.

[0034]FIG. 7 is a bottom view of a transceiver module, with apull-to-release latch member removed and the latch actuator pull tabextending from the transceiver module.

[0035]FIG. 8 is a partial side section view of a transceiver module, thepull mechanism and a pull-to-release latch member represented in anunlatched position resulting from pulling the pull tab.

[0036]FIG. 9 is an upper isometric view of a plug-once latch member.

[0037]FIG. 10 is a partial side section view of a transceiver module anda plug-once latch member engaged therewith.

[0038]FIG. 11 is a partial side section view of a transceiver module anda plug-once latch member engaged therewith.

[0039]FIG. 12 is a partial side section view of another exemplaryembodiment of a transceiver module and a plug-once latch member engagedtherewith.

[0040]FIG. 13 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a computer systemhaving a CPU, a memory, and a network adapter having a mating port, atransceiver module with a latch member, and a transceiver subassemblydisposed within the transceiver module.

[0041]FIG. 14 illustrates another exemplary embodiment of a computersystem, similar to that illustrated in FIG. 13, but with the transceiversubassembly disposed outside the transceiver module.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0042] Aspects of the invention will now be described in more detail byway of example with reference to the embodiments shown in theaccompanying figures. It should be kept in mind that the followingdescribed embodiments are only presented by way of example and shouldnot be construed as limiting the inventive concept to any particularphysical configuration.

[0043] Further, if used and unless otherwise stated, the terms “upper,”“lower,” “front,” “back,” “over,” “under,” and similar such terms arenot to be construed as limiting the invention to a particularorientation. Instead, these terms are used only on a relative basis.

[0044] The present invention is directed towards a transceiver modulehaving a plug-once latch, and a latching mechanism kit for a module,which includes a plug-once latch and a readily releasable latch.

[0045] The transceiver module according to the present invention isadapted to accommodate a transceiver subassembly therein, which receiveselectronic signals from a computer and converts those electronic signalsto light pulse signals corresponding to the electronic signals fortransmission over a network via a conduit. The transceiver subassemblysimilarly will receive light pulse signals from a conduit and convertthe light signals to electronic signals for transmission to thecomputer. The transceiver subassemblies may be connected to a conduitconnector, such as a fiber optic cable connector, for example, which isinsertable into a transceiver module resident in a communications portof a computer system. Similarly, a transceiver module capable ofaccepting and transmitting electronic signals over coaxial cable alsomay be inserted into the communications port of a computer whenevercoaxial cable is used in the network.

[0046] Initial reference is made to FIG. 1, which shows mating port 100,of a cage for example, attached to a circuit board 102, and beingadapted to receive a transceiver module (not shown). The mating port 100projects through a housing port 106 in an electronic system housing(i.e., bezel) 104. The mating port 100 includes a receiving member 108,for example a cantilevered beam spring, provided with an opening 110therein. A slanted portion 109 at the end of the receiving member 108projects through the system housing 104. Opening 110 is provided with anedge. Opening 110 and specifically, the edge of receiving member 108form an engaging surface 112 that engages and retains a latch member222, shown in FIG. 2.

[0047]FIG. 2 illustrates a bottom view of the latch member 222, of anexemplary transceiver module. The latch member 222 has shafts 225 oneither side thereof, and a latch arm 228. A lug 224 is disposed on thelatch arm 228 and on a lower surface of the latch member. Lug 224 has asloped portion 232, and an engagement portion 230 that engages with theengaging surface 112 of the receiving member 108.

[0048]FIG. 3 illustrates engagement of latch member 222 with receivingmember 108 when the module (not shown) is plugged into mating port 100,in which lug 224 extends through opening 110. The engagement surface 112and engagement portion 230 face each other to form an abuttingengagement, which prevents the module (not shown) from being unpluggedfrom mating port 100.

[0049] In FIG. 4, transceiver module 10 is shown projecting from matingport 100, and extending from the front end of the module is a pull tablatch control member 12. Pull tab latch control member 12 or latchmember 222 may be made of a rigid plastic or other material or made of aflexible plastic or other material, such as a plastic coated fabric orother high strength fiber structure, for example.

[0050] In FIG. 5, the pull tab latch control member 12 and a latchmember 222 are shown removed from the transceiver module 10. A latchcontrol actuator 19 is formed as a shaft with enlarged cylindrical endportions 20 and a smaller diameter intermediate shaft 21 interconnectingthem. The intermediate shaft 21 is sufficiently small so as toaccommodate a loop 13 of the pull tab latch control member 12 to bewrapped around the intermediate shaft 21 and still have an outsidedimension smaller than the diameter of the cylindrical end portions 20.The material segment 22 of the pull tab control member 12 is foldedaround the intermediate shaft 21. The ends of the material may be bondedtogether to form the tab portion 12 which may be flexible and easilygripped by an operator to transmit the pulling action on the tab portion12 to the latch control actuator 19.

[0051] Latch member 222 is provided with a pair of shafts 225 which aresnap fitted into the frames 28 of the transceiver module 10. Thismounting arrangement permits the latch member 222 of the pull-to-releasetype to pivot with respect to the transceiver module 10, and permits thelatch members, of the pull-to-release and plug-once types, to beinterchangeable and easily replaceable if broken or damaged. Latchmember 222, of the pull-to-release type, is provided with at least oneand preferably a pair of ramps or wedges 236 on the upper surface of thelatch member and on the opposite end of the latch member 222 from thelatch arm 228. Latch member 222 is also provided with an optionalbiasing member 234 disposed thereon, which abuts the module 10 when thelatch member is snap fitted into the module and biases the latch memberdownwardly towards the receiving member 108.

[0052] Reference is now to made to FIG. 6, which is a partial sectionside view of a module 10 adapted for a kit and having a latch member222, of the pull-to-release type, engaged thereto. The left sidestructure of the transceiver module 10, as shown in FIG. 4, has beenremoved to expose the interior structure of the transceiver module 10,the latch member 222, the pull tab latch control member 12, andassociated latch control actuator 19.

[0053] The latch control actuator 19 resides within a chamber 38 formedinto the transceiver module 10 and by the input end of the latch member222. In its operative aspects, the chamber 38 is defined by the ramp 232on the latch member 222 and ramp 40, which is on the underside of thetransceiver module 10 and converges with ramp 236 in the direction ofleft to right as illustrated in FIG. 6. The chamber 38 is formed toaccept and contain the latch control actuator 19 with the latch arm 230in a restored or latching position, i.e., with the input end elevatedand the latch arm 230 depressed so that lug 224 extends through opening110 of receiving member 108.

[0054] Movement of latch actuator 19 in a direction of left to right, asillustrated, and under the influence of the pull tab 12 being pulledoutwardly from the transceiver module 10 will cause the cylindrical endportions 20 to engage ramps 236 and 40. Further movement of the latchactuator 19 causes the ramps 236, 40 to be spread apart one from theother and the latch member 222 to be pivoted about the shafts 225 oflatch member 222 and frame 28, thereby raising the latch arm 230 andmoving both latch lug 224 and latching surface 230 upward, out ofinterference with engaging surface 112 of receiving member 108.

[0055] Sloped portion 232 of the latch lug 224 is oriented to slide overthe engaging surface 112 of receiving member 108, thereby eliminatingthe need for manually displacing latch lug 224 over the engaging surfaceon insertion of the transceiver module 10 and associated latch arm 30into mating port 100. Likewise, slanted portion 109 of receiving member108 is also oriented to slide under the sloped portion 232. One or bothof the sloped portion 232 and slanted portion 109 may be used with theinvention for engagement of latch lug 224 with receiving member 108.

[0056]FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of a module 10 for a kit withoutlatch member 222, of the pull-to-release type, installed. Thecylindrical end portions 20 of latch actuator 19 overlie the ramp 40 andare resident within chamber 38. Pulling the pull tab 12 will dislocatethe latch actuator 19 up the ramp 40 and engage the latch member 222 onits ramps 232 as described earlier. In this view, biasing member 234 isshown as a pair and part of the transceiver module 10.

[0057] The position of the various parts and members of a module areillustrated in the unlatched condition in FIG. 8, which is substantiallythe same as FIG. 6 with the exception of the displacement of the latchactuator 19 and the latch member 222 due to the displacement of thelatch actuator 19 as a result of the pulling of the pull tab 12.

[0058]FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of latch member 222, of a plug-oncetype for use in a kit, where the upper surface of latch member 222 hasformed thereon a raised portion, such as a latch abutment 240, thatabuts a lower surface of module 10 when latch member 222 is engaged withmodule 10 via snap fitting of shafts 225 into frames 28. The abutment oflatch abutment 240 with a lower surface of module 10 prevents lug 224from moving upwards or away from receiving member 108, which precludeseasy disengagement of latch member 222 from receiving member 108.

[0059] As illustrated in FIGS. 10-12, a latch member 222, of a plug-oncetype, engages a module 10 in substantially the same manner as shown inFIGS. 6 and 8, via snap fitting of shafts 225 into frames 28 of module10. FIG. 10 shows a latch member 222, of a plug-once type for a kit, inwhich an upper surface of the latch member includes an latch abutment240 that abuts a lower surface of module 10, which precludes easydisengagement of latch member 222 from receiving member 108.

[0060]FIG. 11 shows a latch member 222, of a plug-once type, engagedwith an embodiment of a module 10 lacking a chamber 38, in which theupper surface of latch member 222 abuts a lower surface of module 10;while FIG. 12 shows an embodiment of latch member 222, of a plug-oncetype, where the upper surface of the latch member lacks a raised portion240, and a lower surface of module 10 is lowered to abut the uppersurface of latch member 222, both of which preclude easy disengagementof latch member 222 from receiving member 108.

[0061] With a pull-to-release latch, when module 10 is engaged withmating port 100, the receiving member 108 and latch arm 228 slide byeach other, with either the receiving member 108 being flexed away fromlatch member 228 or latch member being pivoted away from the receivingmember, or both.

[0062] With a plug-once latch, when module 10 is engaged with matingport 100, the receiving member 108 and latch arm 228 slide by eachother, with the receiving member 108 being flexed away from latch member228.

[0063] With either latch, when latch member 228 engages the mating port100, latch lug 224 will slide over a portion of the receiving member 108and then drop behind the engaging surface 112 that engages and retainslatch member 222 into the inferring, latching position illustrated inFIG. 3 and thereby retain the transceiver module 10 within mating port100.

[0064] The restore action necessary to reposition the latch member 222,of the pull-to-release type, for latching is accomplished by relievingthe tension on the latch actuator 19 and the restoration of biasingmember 234, which may be mounted on the latch member 24, as shown inFIG. 5. The deformation of the biasing member 234 during unlatching bythe pivoting of the latch member 24 stores energy in the biasing member234 and, as permitted to do so, expends that energy to pivot the latchmember 24 counterclockwise to a latched position. The biasing member 234may be disposed on the transceiver module 10 if so desired or may beplaced in other positions on the latch arm 30 if space and designconstraints dictate.

[0065]FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate exemplary embodiments of a computersystem having a CPU 402, a memory 404 and a network adapter 406,operatively connected to the CPU and the memory by at least one bus 408.The network adapter 406 has at least one transceiver subassembly 408 forreceiving and transmitting computer readable signals over a network (notshown). The network adapter 406 also has a mating port 100 for receivinga transceiver module 10 having a latch member 222.

[0066] As illustrated, transceiver subassembly 408 may be disposedinside transceiver module 10 (shown in FIG. 13), or outside transceivermodule 10 (shown in FIG. 14).

[0067] While the description of aspects of the invention and itslatching action is made with reference to the engagement portion 230engaging the engaging surface 112 of the receiving member 108, it shouldbe understood that the engagement portion will perform its retentionfunction equally well if it is engaged with a latch bar which is formedas a part of the bezel 104. The only requirements for the engagingportion 230 to perform its retention function is to engage aninterfering structure when the transceiver module 10 is pulled or movedin an extracting direction with the latch member 222 remaining in itslatching position. Examples of such structures may be found in therelated United States Patent Applications listed above.

[0068] While the description of aspects of the invention has been madewith reference to a transceiver module for purposes of the preferredembodiment, other non-electronic modules or devices may be latched bythe use of this design of latch mechanism.

[0069] It should be understood, however, that the invention is notnecessarily limited to the specific process, arrangement, materials andcomponents shown and described above, but may be susceptible to numerousvariations within the scope of the invention. For example, although theabove-described exemplary aspects of the invention are believed to beparticularly well suited for latching computer modules into matingports, it is contemplated that the concepts of the present invention canbe applied in other applications. For example, the concepts of thepresent application can be utilized whenever it is desired to provide alatching mechanism that is not too easily unlatchable; or a kit withinterchangeable latch members, with one latch member being easilyunlatchable and another that is not.

[0070] It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the manner ofmaking and using the claimed invention has been adequately disclosed inthe above-written description of the preferred embodiments takentogether with the drawings.

[0071] It will be understood that the above description of theembodiments of the present invention are susceptible to variousmodifications, changes and adaptations, and the same are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A module, comprising: a module body adapted toplug into a mating port; and a latch member attached to said modulebody, said latch member being immovable relative to said module bodywhen attached thereto, said latch member being essentially alwaysengaged with a receiving member of the mating port when said module bodyis plugged into the mating port to always hinder a removal of saidmodule body from the mating port.
 2. The module of claim 1, wherein saidlatch member is removably attached to said module body.
 3. The module ofclaim 1, wherein said latch member has a lug on a lower surface thereof,said lug being adapted to engage the receiving member, and wherein anupper surface of said latch member abuts said module body to preventsaid lug from being moved relative to said module body.
 4. The module ofclaim 3, wherein the upper surface of said latch member includes a latchabutment that abuts said module body to prevent said lug from beingmoved relative to said module body.
 5. The module of claim 3, whereinsaid lug has a sloped portion to facilitate the engagement of said lugwith the receiving member.
 6. The module of claim 1, wherein said modulebody includes a frame, and said latch member further comprises a shaft,said shaft being engageable with said frame.
 7. The module of claim 6,wherein said shaft is removably engagable with said frame to allow saidlatch member to be removed from said module body.
 8. The module of claim1, wherein said latch member is formed of a resilient material.
 9. Themodule of claim 1, wherein said latch member is formed of a rigidmaterial.
 10. The module of claim 1, wherein said module body has ahollowed area to accommodate a transceiver subassembly therein.
 11. Amodule, comprising: a module body adapted to plug into a mating porthaving a receiving member; and a latch member kit, comprising at least:a first latch member selectively and removably attachable to said modulebody, said first latch member being immovable relative to said modulebody when attached to said module body, said first latch member beingessentially always engaged with the receiving member when said modulebody is plugged into the mating port to always hinder a removal of saidmodule body from the mating port; and a second latch member selectivelyand removably attachable to said module body, said second latch memberbeing movable to first and second positions relative to said module bodywhen attached to said module body, said second latch member being onlyengaged with the receiving member when in the first position and whensaid module body is plugged into the mating port, to hinder a removal ofsaid module body from the mating port, said second latch member beingdisengaged from the receiving member when in the second position andwhen said module body is plugged into the mating port, to allow the freeremoval of said module body from the mating port.
 12. The module ofclaim 11, wherein when said second latch member is selectively attachedto said module body, an upper surface of said second latch member facessaid module body, and said second latch member is pivotable to the firstand second positions relative to said module body.
 13. The module ofclaim 11, wherein said first latch member comprises a first lug,disposed on a lower surface thereof, and being adapted to engage thereceiving member, and wherein when said first latch member isselectively attached to said module body, an upper surface of said firstlatch member abuts said module body to prevent said first lug from beingmoved relative to said module body, and said second latch membercomprises a second lug, disposed on a lower surface of said second latchmember, and being adapted to engage the receiving member.
 14. The moduleof claim 13, wherein an upper surface of said first latch member abuts alower portion of said module body to prevent said first lug from beingmoved upwardly.
 15. The module of claim 13, wherein said second latchmember further comprises a ramp on an upper surface thereof, said ramphaving a raised portion.
 16. The module of claim 15, wherein said secondlatch member further comprises an actuator member having an actuatorportion engageable with said ramp and said module body, and beingmovable between a third and a fourth position, wherein when saidactuator member is the third position, said actuator portion engages theraised portion of said ramp and said body, to move said raised portiondownwardly such that said second lug moves upwardly and out ofengagement with said receiving member.
 17. The module of claim 11,wherein said second latch member is resiliently biased to the firstposition.
 18. The module of claim 11, further comprising a biasingmember, disposed on one of said module body and said second latchmember, and being adapted to bias said second latch member to the firstposition.
 19. The module of claim 13, wherein said upper surface of saidfirst latch member includes a latch abutment that abuts said module bodyto prevent said first lug from being moved relative to said module body.20. The module of claim 13, where in said first lug has a sloped portionto facilitate an engagement of said first lug with said receivingmember.
 21. The module of claim 13, wherein said second lug has a slopedportion to facilitate an engagement of said second lug with saidreceiving member.
 22. The module of claim 11, wherein said module bodyincludes a frame, and each of said first latch member and said secondlatch member further comprise a shaft, the respective shafts beingengageable with said frame.
 23. The module of claim 22, wherein saidrespective shafts are removably engagable with said frame to allow saidfirst latch member and said second latch member to be selectivelyremoved from said module body.
 24. The module of claim 11, wherein saidfirst latch member and said second latch member are formed of aresilient material.
 25. The module of claim 11, wherein said first latchmember and said second latch member are formed of a rigid material. 26.The module of claim 11, wherein said module body has a hollowed area toaccommodate a transceiver subassembly therein.
 27. A computer system,comprising: a CPU; a memory; and a network adapter, operativelyconnected to said CPU and said memory by at least one bus, said networkadapter comprising: at least one transceiver subassembly for receivingand transmitting computer readable signals; a mating port; and a module,said module comprising: a module body adapted to plug into a matingport; and a latch member attached to said module body, said latch memberbeing immovable relative to said module body when attached thereto, saidlatch member being essentially always engaged with a receiving member ofsaid mating port when said module body is plugged into said mating portto always hinder a removal of said module body from said mating port.28. The computer system of claim 27, wherein said latch member isremovably attached to said module body.
 29. The computer system of claim27, wherein said latch member has a lug on a lower surface thereof, saidlug being adapted to engage the receiving member, and wherein an uppersurface of said latch member abuts said module body to prevent said lugfrom being moved relative to said module body.
 30. The computer systemof claim 27, wherein said upper surface of said latch member includes alatch abutment that abuts said module body to prevent said lug frombeing moved relative to said module body.